AHS 325 – Rocks & Minerals

The focus in AHS 325 is on building a understanding of the main rock-forming minerals, the basic chemistry that underlies their structure, and identification of minerals in hand sample. The AHS Department is fortunate to have been gifted a large mineral collection from the estate of Donald W. LaLonde, an avid Minnesota mineral collector. Many of the samples from his collection are used in class and lab. Hand sample identification of Igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks, as well as classification systems are investigated. Students are introduced to optical mineralogy and use of the petrographic microscope. Students typically conduct a in-class research project, and present a poster detailing the rocks or minerals they have focused on at the SCSU Student Research Colloquium.